Hyundai Grand i10 UPGRADED to challenge the Maruti Swift

South Korean carmaker Hyundai is set to launch an upgraded version of the Grand i10 later this month. According to mycarhelpline.com, the new upgraded Grand i10 is expected to arrive in showrooms by the third week of September and will make ABS with EBD and dual airbags as standard on all variants of the Hyundai hatchback. This upgrade will bring the updated Hyundai Grand i10 on level terms in terms of safety with its biggest rival, the Maruti Swift.

In addition to the safety upgrades to all models, certain variants of the Grand i10 will also get cosmetic upgrades as well. The Grand i10 Magna gets cosmetic changes in the form of roof rails and beading on the doors, along with the safety upgrade. The Grand i10 Sportz variant too gets a few cosmetic bits added to in the form of a rear spoiler and LED daytime running lights (DRL), which should give it a more sporty look and could attract buyers away from the mid-specced Swift.

The upgraded variants of the Grand i10 will not feature any mechanical changes whatsoever. The Hyundai Grand i10 will continue to draw power from two engine options – petrol and diesel. The 1.2 litre petrol engine is an inline, 4-cylinder unit with 81 Bhp @ 6,000 rpm and 114 Nm of torque @ 4,000 rpm. The diesel engine is a turbocharged inline 3-cylinder 1.2 litre powerplant that produces 74 Bhp @ 4,000 rpm and 190 Nm @ 1,750 rpm. Both engines are mated to 5-speed manual gearboxes though the petrol engine is also offered with a 4-speed automatic gearbox. The outputs are similar to what the Maruti Swift makes.

The prices of the Grand i10 is expected to go up by up to Rs 15,000. Hyundai will also slash the cash discount offered on the Grand i10 by Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000, meaning an overall price hike of up to Rs 25,000 depending on the variant purchased.

The upgrades to the Grand i10 make the Magna and Sportz version of the i10 a real value proposition for many buyers, considering the safety upgrades. The i10 Sportz should attract even more buyers thanks to the addition of the DRLs and spoiler. The upgraded Grand i10 will also remain more affordable than the Maruti Swift, despite offering the same amount of safety features, which could work in the Hyundai hatch’s favour.